MISSOURI BILL WOULD CREATE STATEWIDE FOOD TRUCK LICENSE

JEFFERSON CITY — A proposal moving through the Missouri legislature could make it much easier for food trucks to operate across the state by allowing them to use a single statewide license.

Food trucks have become increasingly popular nationwide, including across Missouri where mobile vendors can now be found in small towns, rural communities, and major cities alike.

Under current Missouri law, however, food truck operators must obtain a separate license in each city or municipality where they want to operate. That requirement can leave vendors dealing with multiple applications, inspections, and fees.

House Bill 3157 aims to simplify the process. The proposal would allow food trucks to operate statewide under one license and safety inspection issued by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, which would be renewed annually.

The legislation also creates three categories for food truck operations based on the type of food preparation involved.

Type I vendors would include trucks that dispense only prepackaged foods and items that do not require temperature control, posing a lower public health risk.

Type II vendors would include trucks that handle limited food preparation.

Type III vendors would include trucks that fully prepare, cook, hold, and serve food from the truck.

While the bill would allow statewide licensing, local governments would still retain authority over general health and safety regulations. However, the legislation would restrict certain rules that can limit food truck operations, including caps on the number of licenses issued or requirements that trucks remain in constant motion when not serving customers.

Supporters of the bill say similar policies have been successful in other states.

Samuel Hooper, legislative counsel for the Institute for Justice, told lawmakers during a committee hearing that states like Tennessee and Oklahoma have already adopted comparable statewide licensing systems.

Hooper said those states have seen lower operating costs for food truck owners and no increase in food safety problems.

Texas is also set to implement a similar law later this year.

House Bill 3157 was heard this week in the Missouri House Economic Development Committee. The proposal still must be approved by the full Missouri House and Senate before becoming law.